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3-D CAD PROGRAMS AUTOS KETCH 8 AutoSketch 8, made by the same company that makes QulckCAD, Is almost a carbon copy of Its counterpart. It comes In similar packagIng, offers the same level of Instruction, and sports the same user Interface. The only difference, besides the price, Is that AutoSketch features 3-D effects. It allows you to draw 3-D shapes; however, you cannot render a 2-D drawing In 3-D. I spent about 30 hours over the course of a month trying to use the feature, and the only thing I had to show for it was a few more gray hairs. I threw In the towel and came to peace with the fact that I was not going to draw the table In 3-D. D the 3-D effects feature even after an exhaustive evaluation of AutoSketch. iffi table incorporates curves and coves, which I felt would make for a more challenging test. Over a period of four months, I put the programs through their paces. I had planned to give each piece of software equal playing time, but the simple 2-D programs required significantly less time to learn than the 3-D programs. So I decided to make the best drawing I could with each program while keeping notes on the process along the way. All of the programs I tested require basic knowledge of the Windows operating sys- Program Manufacturer • • UTOSKETCH 800-440-4198 www.autodesk.com www.deltacad.com Autodesk Midnight Software 206-361-0796 800-440-4198 www.autodesk.com Autodesk www.imsisoft.com IMSI 800-833-8082 IMSI www.imsisoft.com 800-833-8082 56 FIN E WOOD W 0 R KIN G Price tem, but they don't require you to know the generaJ concepts of CAD. That's where the software's tutorials and instructions come in handy. You also may purchase additional books and tutorials that can heJp you learn how to use some of these programs. A few important CAD features are avail- able in each program. Each allows you to draw in layers, useful when drawing plans with a multitude of parts and dimensions. Layers allow you to hide, manipulate, or delete individual parts without affecting the rest of the drawing. (They are much like file formats ?upported User manual transparencies layered on top of each other.) When drawing in CAD, you can use one layer for the basic drawing, another layer to list all of the dimensions, and a third layer for joinery. You then can hide individual layers if the drawing gets cluttered. With each program you can sketch lines arbitrarily, and then dimensions are added automatically. You also can make lines by first typing in their dimensions. I prefer to employ the latter method and do my sketching ahead of time with a pencil and some paper. Difficulty level deSign time Trai�ing .and rating ave.rall cult. Paolini was unable to master CD Il.HI .�" ·�· ·_I· �· .. ':""" C<>10. "" . ,.. __ 61 no E,. ...... ,.. 0- _ 0--. ....,.... � $39.95 $49 $99 $99.95 $99.95 DXF DXF, DWG, JPG, BMP, WMV DXF, DWG, JPG, BMP, WMV DXF, DWG, WMV DXF, DWG, JPG, BMP, WMV None, but built-in tutorials were very useful "Fast Track" tutorials teach the baSics, and some help features are integrated into the software "Fast Track" tutorials teach the baSics, and some help features are integrated into the software Extensive manual and three training CDs that practically hold your hand through the learning process but plan on putting in some hours to learn 3-D Extensive manual and basic built-in tutorials, Beginner Intermediate Advanced Beginner Intermediate Two hours 10 hours 30 hours Nine hours 22 hours Good Good Poor Excellent Good